HUD HCV Guidebook § 3.3
Family Rent to Owner (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
The family rent to owner is the portion of the rent to owner that is paid by the family. Family rent to
owner is calculated by subtracting the HAP from the rent to the owner. If the family is not
responsible for paying any utilities under the lease, family rent to owner will equal family share.
Where families are responsible for directly paying some or all of the utilities, family rent to owner will
be less than the family share. Sometimes, the calculation of family rent to owner may result in a
negative amount, in which case the family rent to owner is zero, and there will be a utility
reimbursement as described in Section 3.4 - Utility Reimbursement.
Example 10 shows a sample calculation of the family rent to owner when the rent includes all
utilities. Example 11 shows a sample calculation when the family pays some or all utilities.
Example 10: Calculating Family Rent to
Owner When Rent Includes All Utilities
Rent to owner $425
plus utility allowance + $0
Gross rent = $425
less HAP - $215
Family share = $210
Less utility allowance - $0
Family rent to owner = $210
Example 11: Calculating Family Rent to
Owner When Family Pays Some or All
Utilities
Rent to owner $300
plus utility allowance + $125
Gross rent = $425
less HAP - $215
Family share = $210
Less utility allowance - $125
Family rent to owner = $85Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 3.3, the amount a voucher-assisted family pays directly to their landlord — called the "family rent to owner" — is determined by subtracting the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) from the total rent, and then further adjusting for any utility allowance the family is responsible for. When the family pays utilities directly, their payment to the landlord is lower than their overall "family share" of housing costs. If this calculation produces a negative number, the family rent to owner is set to zero, and a separate utility reimbursement process described in Section 3.4 applies instead.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 3.3, compliant operators understand that the total rent to owner is split between the HAP paid by the Public Housing Authority and the family rent to owner paid directly by the tenant. Landlords generally track whether utilities are included in the lease or paid separately by the family, since that distinction directly affects how much the family remits to the owner each month. Operators familiar with this provision also recognize that the family's direct payment may be reduced — sometimes to zero — depending on the applicable utility allowance, with any overage handled through the utility reimbursement process in Section 3.4.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 3.3 establishes how your out-of-pocket payment to your landlord is calculated, taking into account both the Housing Assistance Payment made on your behalf and any utility costs you pay directly. If you pay some or all utilities yourself, your payment to the landlord should be lower than your total family share, reflecting the applicable utility allowance. Tenants who believe their family rent to owner has been calculated incorrectly may raise the issue with their local Public Housing Authority, consult a tenant-rights organization, or review Section 3.4 to understand whether a utility reimbursement may apply.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.